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| Summer 2007, WIE training in a real estate management company in Hong Kong |
| Spring 2008, Study tour to Dubai |
| Summer 2008, WIE training in Nanjing Folklore Museum |
| Present, Building Management Trainee, Swire Properties Ltd |
LAU Kai-hin Hughes || August 2009 Graduated with BSc (Hons) Property Management
Fascinated by Chinese culture and history and driven by his desire to understand the operation of a Chinese organisation, in summer 2008, LAU Kai-hin Hughes joined an internship programme at Nanjing Folklore Museum through SAO’s ‘Preferred Graduate’ Development Programme. It was an inspirational experience that facilitated the career development of this Property Management graduate.
At the museum, Hughes was a guide with the responsibility to introduce tourists to the historical background of the former Gan Xi Residence built in the Qing dynasty and give information about the exhibits. “The internship might seem irrelevant to my studies, but the skills and experience I acquired were practical for my job hunt,” Hughes says.
Through the ample opportunities of presenting to tourists of different nationalities, his self-confidence was highly boosted, while his presentation skills were greatly enhanced. “It’s very true that practice makes perfect. The internship gave me the chance to make presentations to strangers. I observed the tourists’ responses and facial expressions, and adjusted my speed and tone if they started to lose attention or feel bored,” he says. “Later when I needed to speak in front of a group of directors during a job interview, I would not feel too nervous.”
 Learn to be a competent leader
To Hughes, the internship offered him more than just work experience, but also an invaluable leadership training. During the internship, the Student Affairs Office arranged for him and other interns a series of activities such as outward bound, outings with Southeast University students as well as visit to local village and families. Hughes was appointed as the chief leader of the Nanjing internship group, comprised of 30 PolyU students.
“As the group leader, I represented PolyU and SAO, and needed to get along with schoolmates from different majors and programmes. On one hand, on behalf of other PolyU interns, I needed to be on stage to give speeches during ceremonies or formal meetings. On the other hand, I cooperated with team members and maintained close communication with different parties. All these led me to be more independent and mature,” Hughes says.
The internship experience was also a chance to review his life and career choice. “When I returned to Hong Kong, I realised the importance of career planning,” he says. He then spent several months on devising and fine-tuning his career plan. He believes a plan with achievable targets will give clearer direction and guide him towards his career goal.
“The Nanjing experience together with previous internship in Hong Kong and the study tour in Dubai had widened my horizons and made me understand myself more,” he says. He also attended a number of trainings on career planning and job hunt skills, and kept polishing both his Putonghua and spoken English to better equip himself.
Planning for career success
His persistence and adroit planning paid off. Now Hughes is working for Swire Properties Ltd as Building Management Trainee, the first step towards his dream. “The first thing that a fresh graduate needs to do is to clarify what you want to achieve and where you want to get to in your life. This is vital. Once you have the answer, you will know what to do,” he says.
“Make sure that every step you take leads you closer to your goal. As fresh graduates, look for the field that you are most interested in. Working in areas that you enjoy will bring you happiness and eventually lead you to success!” Hughes concludes.
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.3/5 (10 votes cast)
LUI Pui-yi Asta || BSc (Hons) Geomatics (Geo-Information Technology) || Intergis Sp. z.o.o., Poland
 When problems occur at work, instant help from colleagues is always handy. Lui Pui-yi Asta can’t agree more after her summer internship experience in Poland. The second year Geomatics student who worked at Intergis Sp. z.o.o., a company specialising in developing aerial and satellite digital pictures, realised establishing good working relationships and maintaining effective communication with colleagues in the office was crucial.
During the internship, Asta participated in different projects and was responsible for conducting analysis and modelling of geo-spatially referenced information as well as providing clerical support. But working in a country without any knowledge of their language can be a big challenge.
For instance, when Asta was asked to convert some paper documents into digital format, a seemingly simple task turned out to be unexpectedly difficult. “All documents including specifications, surveying records and software were in Polish. I didn’t have a clue what they meant at all. Fortunately, my colleagues were very helpful,” says Asta. “They patiently demonstrated to me step by step and translated all the keywords for me. Without their kind help, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the task successfully.”
The over 30-member team of the company, comprised of full-time staff and a group of energetic summer interns, created a vibrant and fun-filled working environment which Asta enjoyed working in. When Asta arrived, her colleagues welcomed her with a party. Asta was nicely surprised by their hospitality. “I didn’t expect they would offer me such a warm welcome. Their friendliness helped me to fit in quickly. I could also establish a good relationship with them right away,” Asta says.
Negotiate to succeed
Asta also absorbed some negotiation skills through an important meeting between her supervisor  and the contractors on some major issues. “I learnt the art of negotiation. I also realised that pre-meeting preparation was important and you needed to know your stance clearly. This experience is something you won’t be able to learn in classroom,” Asta says.
Asta thinks the internship experience was a good preparation for her future career as she now has a better understanding of a company’s day-to-day operation. She also realised the significance of maintaining discipline at work. “My confidence has been boosted and I’ve developed my initiative,” she says. “Most importantly, my communication skill has progressed a lot. Now I know the ways to achieve effective communication in a real office environment.”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.5/5 (4 votes cast)
LEUNG Yuk-ching || BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering || The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited, Hong Kong
 The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), one of the landmarks of Hong Kong, is located alongside the renowned Victoria Harbour and is a popular venue for international and regional conventions and exhibitions. This summer, Leung Yuk-ching joined the Building Operations Department (BOD) at the HKCEC as a summer trainee, a stint that broadened her horizon and deepened her understanding of the building services engineering profession.
To ensure everything runs smoothly, the BOD is there to maintain the physical condition of the HKCEC and to provide high-quality building services. During the two-month internship, Yuk-ching rotated in all the six teams of BOD, including Fire System, Events Technical Services, Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Extra Low Voltage (ELV), Building Maintenance, Electrical, and Mechanical, Plumbing and Drainage. Being exposed to different areas, Yuk-ching acquired more practical knowledge which was beyond what she learnt from textbooks.
A closer look at advanced facilities
She found that innovative products now played a crucial part in facilitating the provision of better building services. For example, there is an air sample system extracting air to check whether there is abnormal level of smoke or not. The card access control system also amazed her as alarm signals will be sent to the security room when door remain open for too long.
“During the training, I saw different kinds of control panels in different plant rooms. In the past, a control panel was so bulky and occupied a lot of space, but thanks to the new technology, the size of control panel is reduced now,” Yuk-ching praises.
“I realised how important building services are. It takes a lot of manpower and money to maintain a high level of services. If the building services are not well-designed, the maintenance would be very difficult and the sustainability of the building would be decreased. ” Yuk-ching says. She also discovered that maintenance is indeed not a simple job, especially for massive buildings like the HKCEC.
To Yuk-ching, having been exposed to the six teams in BOD, the internship gave her a gift of understanding the mechanism of the different components in building services. “One of the most important benefits for me is the sharing from my colleagues who have been working in the industry for many years,” she remarks. “It was a pleasure to have their invaluable working experiences shared with me. Their experiences gave me practical information that cannot be obtained in university, allowing me to know more about the industry and my future career path.”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.3/5 (4 votes cast)
NG Hei-laam Heida, BSc (Hons) Surveying || WONG Pui-wa, BSc (Hons) Property Management || Jin Yu Property Management Co. Ltd., Beijing
 Pursuing a career in a property management company is the ultimate ambition for most building and real estate students. Ng Hei-laam Heida and Wong Pui-wa, both received an internship offer from one of the fastest growing property companies in China, the Beijing Jin Yu Property Management Company Limited, and also have in taken a great leap developing advanced skills in the property management profession during this summer.
While the enriching internship has enhanced both students’ competency, the experience has opened up their minds and given them the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in real situations.
Heida, a Surveying student, was offered the chance to work in two different departments during the five-week internship. “I was first posted to the Synthetic Management Department to assist the mid-year assessment. It was a golden chance for me to get familiar with the mainland real estate market and the internal operation of the property management company,” she says.
She then spent the rest of the placement in the Engineering Department, getting involved in regular patrols to pump rooms, air-conditioning rooms, fire pumping rooms, electricity and water supply systems. “Although I comprehended the basic theories of building structures and facilities from my learning at university last year, it was my first time to apply them in real  situations,” she says.
Be conscious of the surroundings
To be a property management professional, one should have general knowledge about different aspects and understand the interplay between social, economic, legal and technological issues. The training in Jin Yu was a good start for her. “I visited the Security Department and performed a fire protection test and a fire fighting drill, in which I learnt more about the fire protection law in the mainland,” says Pui-wa, who gained compliments from her seniors for her initiative and meticulous observation.
Pui-wa also assisted in the daily operation of building maintenance. “The manager explained to me the requirements for ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 certifications. These quality management systems focus on both the internal and external operation of the company and the re-assessments are conducted every year,” she says. “I was thoroughly convinced that quality control is of the utmost importance in property management, no matter whether it is a little fire sprinkler or a central electricity supply room.”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.3/5 (6 votes cast)
MOK Wong-ning Daniel || BSc (Hons) Surveying || Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, Canada
 Mok Wong-ning Daniel spent a busy and fruitful summer internship at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto in Canada. The placement at the non-profit making organisation was not just a beneficial career exposure for the final year Surveying undergraduate, it was an intriguing exploration in a multicultural world.
The largest Chinese cultural centre in Toronto, Canada
Being an assistant surveyor at the centre which acts as a bridge between the Chinese Canadian community and other communities in the Canadian city, Daniel assisted in the management of a theatre facility, sorting out defects and drafting a maintenance checklist manual. Daniel thinks the placement provided him a precious learning opportunity to incorporate his knowledge into practical experience. After working at the centre for two months, Daniel realised that his problem solving, time management and communication skills were significantly improved.
Experiencing cultural diversity
Outside the workplace, Daniel took great pleasure in the multi-cultural environment of the city which is divided into a range of cultural areas such as Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy, Little India, Korea town, Portugal Village and Little Poland. He was amazed by how people of different ethnic backgrounds dwell together amicably in the city.
“You can hop from one cultural festival to another, you will surely discover how people appreciate each others’ culture. The Toronto International Food Festival was one of my favorites because one minute I was enjoying Portuguese cuisine and the next moment I was savouring Korean kimchi.”
Besides experiencing the cosmopolitan surroundings through various cultural festivals, Daniel also took part in a  Filipino birthday party, feeling the mixed culture. He recalls, “That was the first time I joined a Filipino-style party. Now I understand why people say Canada is a cultural mosaic where mixed ethnic groups, languages and cultures co-exist within one society. I’m so impressed with Canada’s immigration policies.”
To fully enjoy and gain the most out of an internship opportunity, Daniel thinks keeping an open mind is essential. He says, “Be open-minded. Don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people. Above all that, have fun!”
Taking the initiative brings results
Daniel did not just limit his learning and adventures within the organisation. With advice from the SAO and his academic department in Hong Kong, he penned a letter to a leading real estate firm in Canada, DTZ Barnicke, hoping to solicit an opportunity to visit the company and meet some local professionals.
“I was so grateful to visit DTZ Barnicke to learn more about the commercial leasing market in Canada,” says Daniel. “Colin Ross, the Senior Vice President and Manager of office leasing, spared a precious hour to meet me. He showed me the full picture of the industry and talked about how the property market in Canada could withstand the adverse hit from the global economic downturn.”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.2/5 (9 votes cast)
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